Hulunbuir is a prefecture-level city in northeast Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, North China. It spans an area of 264,000 square kilometers (101931 square miles), and has a population of 2.7 million. Hailaer District is the administrative center. Hulunbuir adjoins Heilongjiang Province in the east, and shares borders with Mongolia to the west, and Russia to the north by the Ergun River.

The history of Hulunbuir can be traced back to 209 BC, when the Huns united the grassland territories in North China, and Hulunbuir became one of the king's possessions. Today there are 32 ethnic groups living here, including Han, Mongolian, Manchuria, Daur and so on.

The famous Hulunbuir Grassland, with a total area of 93,000 square kilometers (35,908 square miles), is one of the largest and best-preserved grasslands in the world. The endless grassland is like a giant carpet of green, dotted with white yurts, herds of cattle and sheep, and winding rivers and lakes. Visitors can try many activities. They can roam around riding horses, camels or grassland carts. Or they can paddle a boat and angle on the lakes, or hunt in a nearby forest. Here, you will nor resist the authentic foods of the herdsmen, such as roasted lambs, mutton hotpots, fish feasts, as well as many dairy products.

There are frequent buses shuttling between the Hulunbuir Grassland and Hailaer Coach Station. The ride will take about one hour. Taxies are also available, and the cost is about 100 yuan.

Food

The vast grasslands in Hulunbuir are natural grazing grounds for cattle, sheep and horses. Numerous lakes and rivers here teem with fish and shrimps. All these provide abundant stock for local cuisine.

Roasted Whole Lamb (Kao Quan Yang)

The roasted whole lamb is a kind of precious dish for entertaining distinguished guests, sacrificing, and for opening ceremony of important events. The roasted whole lamb with special favor is famous for color, fragrance, taste and shape. A two-year-old fat lamb is selected and killed. After scalding away the fleece and fishing out the viscera, cook the lamb, stuff the seasonings into the abdominal cavity, then roast it whole until it's done.

Whole Fish Feast (Quan Yu Yan)

The abundant fresh fishes and lake shrimps produced from Hulun Lake can be made into more than 100 kinds of dishes. There are different scales of such feast, with 12, 14, 20, 24 or even more than 100 dishes for a table.

Best Time to Visit

Hulunbuir is situated in the continental climate zone, with cool short summer and long chilly winter. The best time to visit is from late -May to mid-September, when the weather is the most pleasant. There is a wide range of temperature within one day, and the annual average temperature is -5 °C to 2 °C (23 °F to 35.6 °F).

In summer after July, there will be many mosquitoes in the grassland, please bring mosquito repellent, and wear traveling shoes, instead of sandals. Raincoats are more practical than umbrellas, because the rain usually comes with strong wind.

There is not abundant rainfall in Hulunbuir, and the annual precipitation is about 400 millimeters (15.7 inches). Rainfall in summer (especially in July and August) takes up 65 – 70% of the yearly volume.

Getting There and Away

Flight

Hulunbuir's airport (Hulunbuir Hailaer Dongshan Airport, HLD) is only 7 km (4.3 miles) from the city downtown area. Every week, there are flights that connect Hulunbuir with Beijing, Shanghai, Hohhot, Shenyang, Dalian, Harbin, and Tianjin.

There is no airport bus available. A taxi ride from the city center to the airport costs around 30 yuan.

Train

The main railway station is the Hailaer Station. Tourists can get to Hulunbuir by taking train from Beijing, Harbin, Hohhot, Baotou, Datong and Dalian.

Weather

Hulunbuir is situated in the continental climate zone, with cool short summer and long chilly winter. The best time to visit is from late -May to mid-September, when the weather is the most pleasant. There is a wide range of temperature within one day, and the annual average temperature is -5 °C to 2 °C (23 °F to 35.6 °F).

There is not abundant rainfall in Hulunbuir, and the annual precipitation is about 400 millimeters (15.7 inches). Rainfall in summer (especially in July and August) takes up 65–70% of the yearly volume.

Travel Tips

The best time to visit is from late-May to mid-September, when the weather is the most pleasant here. There is a wide temperature range within a day. Please bring jackets and trousers for cool morning/evening hours.

In summer after July, there will be many mosquitoes in the grassland, please bring mosquito repellent, and wear traveling shoes, instead of sandals. Raincoats are more practical than umbrellas, because the rain usually comes with strong wind.

Tourists are suggested to follow a guide and move around within appointed areas at the vast grassland. It is better to bring a flashlight at night. In ethnic or religious areas, there are many customs and taboos, please follow the guide’s direction to avoid any unnecessary troubles.